FCT Minister Pays Condolence To Families Of  Victims Of Dei-Dei Clash

FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello on Sunday visited the families of the victims of last Wednesday's deadly clash in the Dei-Dei market that claimed lives and properties worth millions of naira. 

Trouble ensued on Wednesday between some irate Okada operators and traders in the wake of an accident involving a woman, identified as Bukky who allegedly fell of a moving motorcycle and was crushed by a truck in the area.

Bello who met with the families at the Dei-Dei market Mosque premises said the visit was to commiserate with them and offer them support at this trying moment of their lives.

Represented by the FCTA permanent secretary, Olusade Adesola, the minister noted that the administration was saddened by the unfortunate killings and destruction of properties as he urged residents to resist the temptation of taking laws into their hands.

"On behalf of the Hon. Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, I convey their commiseration and condolences to you and pray that God will help us not to see a repeat of such a situation.

“It’s our prayer that God would allow this to happen again. This peace that we are building on, let’s continue to sustain it, as it’s very important for us.

"Just as we have seen, we are one, as we have one objective, and let’s build on it. 

“The honourable Minister sent us specially to the families of the victims, those that lost their loved ones. No matter what we give, it cannot replace the lost lives. 

“But he believes that the little token being handled by the Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Councils’ Services Secretariat will at least show that the FCT loves you, feels your pains, and shares with you in this period of sorrow.

"We pray to God that we will not see this type of situation again.”

Speaking earlier, the chief of Jiwa, His Royal Highness, Musa Idris commended the minister for taking urgent steps to bring the Wednesday unrest under control. 

He appealed to the traders to explore more civilised options of settling their differences rather than taking the laws into their hands. 

On his part, the Chief of the Igbo Community in Dei-Dei, Tochukwu Nze Diugwu who also commended the minister for shutting down the market after the clash, said more damages would have been recorded if such a decision was not taken immediately. 

The minister presented the families of the victims with cash tokens and promised that the administration will settle the bills of victims receiving treatment at various hospitals.